Collier's Encyclopedia
Encyclopedia
P.F. Collier & Son Company
published Collier's New Encyclopedia from 1902–1929, initially in 16 volumes and later in 10 volumes.
Collier's 11 volume National Encyclopedia (1932–1950) replaced Collier's New Encyclopedia.
In 1949 the entirely new 20 volume Collier's Encyclopedia replaced the National Encyclopedia.
After Robert Collier's
death in 1918, P.F. Collier & Son Company was bought by Crowell Publishing Company (later the Crowell-Collier Publishing Company). In 1950 Crowell, Collier and Macmillan
published the 20 volume Collier's Encyclopedia (full title Collier's Encyclopedia with Bibliography and Index). Self-described in its preface as "a scholarly, systematic, continuously revised summary of the knowledge that is most significant to mankind", it was expanded to 24 volumes in 1962. It was long considered one of the three major contemporary English-language general encyclopedias, together with Encyclopedia Americana
and Encyclopædia Britannica
: the three were sometimes collectively called "the ABCs". Until its print edition ceased in 1998, Collier's Encyclopedia was sold almost exclusively door-to-door, one of the last big-ticket items of that nature in the United States.
In 1998 Microsoft
bought the rights to Collier's electronic version and incorporated it into its Encarta electronic encyclopedia. Atlas Editions (formerly Collier Newfield) retained the rights to publish the encyclopedia in book form, though since then, Collier's has ceased to be in print.
, who gave a qualitative and quantitative comparison of Collier's Encyclopedia with two comparable encyclopaedias, Encyclopaedia Britannica and the Encyclopedia Americana
. For the quantitative analysis, ten articles were selected at random (circumcision
, Charles Drew, Galileo, Philip Glass
, heart disease
, IQ, panda bear, sexual harassment
, Shroud of Turin
and Uzbekistan
) and letter grades (A–D, F) were awarded in four categories: coverage, accuracy, clarity, and recency. In all four categories and for all three encyclopaedias, the four average grades fell between B− and B+, chiefly because not one encyclopaedia had an article on sexual harassment
in 1994. In the accuracy category, Collier's received one D and seven As. Encyclopedia Americana received eight As, and the Britannica received one D and eight As; thus, Collier's received an average score of 92% for accuracy to Americana' s 95% and Britannica’s 92%. In the timeliness category, Collier's averaged an 85% to Americanas 90% and Britannica's’ 86%. After a more thorough qualitative comparison of all three encyclopedias, Kister
recommended Collier's Encyclopedia primarily on the strength of its writing, presentation and navigation.
Peter Fenelon Collier
Peter Fenelon Collier was the founder of the publishing company P.F. Collier & Son, and in 1888 founded Collier's Weekly. P.F...
published Collier's New Encyclopedia from 1902–1929, initially in 16 volumes and later in 10 volumes.
Collier's 11 volume National Encyclopedia (1932–1950) replaced Collier's New Encyclopedia.
In 1949 the entirely new 20 volume Collier's Encyclopedia replaced the National Encyclopedia.
After Robert Collier's
Robert Joseph Collier
Robert Joseph Collier was the son of Peter Fenelon Collier, and a principal in the publishing company "P.F. Collier & Son". Upon his father's death, he became head of P.F. Collier & Son Company, and for a time was editor of Collier's Weekly...
death in 1918, P.F. Collier & Son Company was bought by Crowell Publishing Company (later the Crowell-Collier Publishing Company). In 1950 Crowell, Collier and Macmillan
Collier Books
Collier Books was a publisher established by the Collier family. It later become part of Crowell-Collier Publishing, which merged with Macmillan Publishing to become Macmillan, Inc.....
published the 20 volume Collier's Encyclopedia (full title Collier's Encyclopedia with Bibliography and Index). Self-described in its preface as "a scholarly, systematic, continuously revised summary of the knowledge that is most significant to mankind", it was expanded to 24 volumes in 1962. It was long considered one of the three major contemporary English-language general encyclopedias, together with Encyclopedia Americana
Encyclopedia Americana
Encyclopedia Americana is one of the largest general encyclopedias in the English language. Following the acquisition of Grolier in 2000, the encyclopedia has been produced by Scholastic....
and Encyclopædia Britannica
Encyclopædia Britannica
The Encyclopædia Britannica , published by Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc., is a general knowledge English-language encyclopaedia that is available in print, as a DVD, and on the Internet. It is written and continuously updated by about 100 full-time editors and more than 4,000 expert...
: the three were sometimes collectively called "the ABCs". Until its print edition ceased in 1998, Collier's Encyclopedia was sold almost exclusively door-to-door, one of the last big-ticket items of that nature in the United States.
Editions of Collier's Encyclopedia
The 1997 edition has 23,000 entries with few short entries, as related subjects are usually consolidated into longer articles. A high percentage of the illustrations are in color, and more full-color illustrations had been added in recent years resulting in pictorial matter accounting for about two-fifths of the pages. Bibliographies are found in the last volume which also contains the 450,000 entry essential index. An annual Collier's Year Book was also published.In 1998 Microsoft
Microsoft
Microsoft Corporation is an American public multinational corporation headquartered in Redmond, Washington, USA that develops, manufactures, licenses, and supports a wide range of products and services predominantly related to computing through its various product divisions...
bought the rights to Collier's electronic version and incorporated it into its Encarta electronic encyclopedia. Atlas Editions (formerly Collier Newfield) retained the rights to publish the encyclopedia in book form, though since then, Collier's has ceased to be in print.
Kister's Comparison
A well-known comparison is that of Kenneth KisterKenneth Kister
Kenneth F. Kister is an academic, professor of library science and authority in the field of reference and information sources.As an academic he taught in the 1960s on "Intellectual Freedom and Censorship"...
, who gave a qualitative and quantitative comparison of Collier's Encyclopedia with two comparable encyclopaedias, Encyclopaedia Britannica and the Encyclopedia Americana
Encyclopedia Americana
Encyclopedia Americana is one of the largest general encyclopedias in the English language. Following the acquisition of Grolier in 2000, the encyclopedia has been produced by Scholastic....
. For the quantitative analysis, ten articles were selected at random (circumcision
Circumcision
Male circumcision is the surgical removal of some or all of the foreskin from the penis. The word "circumcision" comes from Latin and ....
, Charles Drew, Galileo, Philip Glass
Philip Glass
Philip Glass is an American composer. He is considered to be one of the most influential composers of the late 20th century and is widely acknowledged as a composer who has brought art music to the public .His music is often described as minimalist, along with...
, heart disease
Heart disease
Heart disease, cardiac disease or cardiopathy is an umbrella term for a variety of diseases affecting the heart. , it is the leading cause of death in the United States, England, Canada and Wales, accounting for 25.4% of the total deaths in the United States.-Types:-Coronary heart disease:Coronary...
, IQ, panda bear, sexual harassment
Sexual harassment
Sexual harassment, is intimidation, bullying or coercion of a sexual nature, or the unwelcome or inappropriate promise of rewards in exchange for sexual favors. In some contexts or circumstances, sexual harassment is illegal. It includes a range of behavior from seemingly mild transgressions and...
, Shroud of Turin
Shroud of Turin
The Shroud of Turin or Turin Shroud is a linen cloth bearing the image of a man who appears to have suffered physical trauma in a manner consistent with crucifixion. It is kept in the royal chapel of the Cathedral of Saint John the Baptist in Turin, northern Italy. The image on the shroud is...
and Uzbekistan
Uzbekistan
Uzbekistan , officially the Republic of Uzbekistan is a doubly landlocked country in Central Asia and one of the six independent Turkic states. It shares borders with Kazakhstan to the west and to the north, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan to the east, and Afghanistan and Turkmenistan to the south....
) and letter grades (A–D, F) were awarded in four categories: coverage, accuracy, clarity, and recency. In all four categories and for all three encyclopaedias, the four average grades fell between B− and B+, chiefly because not one encyclopaedia had an article on sexual harassment
Sexual harassment
Sexual harassment, is intimidation, bullying or coercion of a sexual nature, or the unwelcome or inappropriate promise of rewards in exchange for sexual favors. In some contexts or circumstances, sexual harassment is illegal. It includes a range of behavior from seemingly mild transgressions and...
in 1994. In the accuracy category, Collier's received one D and seven As. Encyclopedia Americana received eight As, and the Britannica received one D and eight As; thus, Collier's received an average score of 92% for accuracy to Americana
Kenneth Kister
Kenneth F. Kister is an academic, professor of library science and authority in the field of reference and information sources.As an academic he taught in the 1960s on "Intellectual Freedom and Censorship"...
recommended Collier's Encyclopedia primarily on the strength of its writing, presentation and navigation.